Make Rome Greater!
Zhang Heng arrived at the imperial palace before nightfall. The guards outside had grown familiar with him by now and knew he was one of Commodus's favorites, so they no longer stopped him.
Of course, Zhang Heng figured he would never receive treatment like Autrus's—a secret passage leading straight to the study.
Commodus's trust in Autrus had reached a level no one else could hope to attain. It had long surpassed the relationship between emperor and adviser.
From that perspective, Zhang Heng could understand why the Blade of Balance, with its considerable political resources, was so determined to eliminate Autrus. Other than assassination, there was practically no way to separate Autrus from Commodus.
That did make Zhang Heng curious about the Blade of Balance's position. Which side were they really on? Did they want Autrus dead to weaken the emperor and leave Commodus with no one to rely on, or did they simply not want Commodus to remain under Autrus's influence?
Of course, it had little to do with Zhang Heng. He had merely been mulling it over during the carriage ride. He handed his Persian short sword to a maid beside him, then followed another maid into the imperial palace.
Quite a few people had already gathered in the hall, though His Majesty had yet to appear. Zhang Heng also saw no sign of anyone who might have been Autrus.
Klind, on the other hand, had arrived early and was weaving through the crowd. He was clearly well-liked; almost everyone treated him with great respect. Klind spotted Zhang Heng as well, patted the back of a young man he had been speaking with, and walked over.
"Welcome. I heard about the mines. You handled it very well and ensured that batch of bronze statues was delivered